TACTICAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a briefing for industry regarding the TACTICAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA9451-24-S-0001, presented by the Directed Energy Directorate on October 19, 2023. It outlines opportunities within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) related to directed energy research and development.

The TACTICAL BAA aims to provide innovative solutions and R&D for Directed Energy (RD), including:

• Laser sources

• Aero-effects & Beam Control

• Laser system technologies, integration, and demonstration

• Laser system modeling & simulation

• Laser interaction testing and modeling

• Laser vulnerability assessments

• Space domain awareness

• High Power Electromagnetics (HPEM) modeling and effects

• HPEM sources and components, and applications

• Wargaming efforts

• The BAA is managed under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

• It supports RDT&E efforts from basic research (6.1) through advanced component development and prototypes (6.4).

• An overarching "Closed BAA" has been established with a value of $499M.

• Projected award timelines are 100-135 days, depending on the solicitation method.

• Two solicitation mechanisms are available: Closed Call Announcements and Topic Area Groups (TAGs).

• Responses will be evaluated using a streamlined evaluation tool called "Valid Eval."

• Evaluation criteria include Technical Merit (highest priority), Relevance to AFRL Programs, and Value/Cost.

• Specific page limits apply to white papers (5 pages) and proposals (20 pages), excluding cover pages and SOWs/ROMs.

• The Small Business Size Standard is 1,000 employees.

• The BAA is designed to be flexible and complement other acquisition tools.

• The TACTICAL BAA is subject to updates, revisions, and/or changes. Offerors are encouraged to monitor SAM.gov for the latest guidance.

• Contracting Points of Contact are Daniel Jones and Bill Sherrod.

• For questions, email: afrl.rdlb.tacticalbaa@us.af.mil.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet designed to assist the Government in completing a rapid analysis of proposed costs for a solicitation. It serves as a template for bidders to input their cost estimates.

• Cost Categories: Includes Direct Labor, Subcontracts, Material/Supplies/Equipment (MSE), Other Direct Costs (ODCs), Indirect Costs, and Profit/Fee.
• Financial Breakdown: Requires input of rates, hours, and costs broken down by Fiscal Year (FY1-FY5) and a ROM TOTAL.
• Instructions: Bidders are instructed to enter costs and rates only in white boxes. Cost bases must be entered for overhead rates and profit/fee calculations.
• ODC Examples: Travel costs, rental fees, shipping costs, and license fees are provided as examples of Other Direct Costs.
• Currency Table: A separate sheet lists various currencies, with "YES/NO" indicators for some, potentially for currency conversion or validation purposes.

This spreadsheet is crucial for bidders to accurately estimate and present their proposed costs in a standardized format. It directly impacts proposal preparation by dictating how cost information must be structured and submitted. The "Summary" sheet is the primary area for cost input, while the "Tables" sheet may provide supporting data or validation criteria.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet template designed for proposers to submit detailed cost proposals. It provides a structured format for breaking down costs across different periods of performance (Base and Options) and by task.

• General Tab: Contains high-level instructions, proposer information (name, CAGE, proposal ID), and prompts for filling in yellow cells.
• Proposer Constants Tab: Defines business type, accounting periods, and fiscal year dates.
• Labor Rates Tab: Requires detailed hourly labor rates, fringe benefits, overhead, G&A rates, and calculates fully loaded rates.
• Indirect Rates and Profit_Fee Tab: For specifying indirect rate categories and their corresponding rates.
• Base, O-I, O-II, O-III, O-IV, O-V Tabs: Worksheets for detailing costs for the base period and up to five option periods.
• Total Amount Tab: Automatically aggregates costs from the Base and Option tabs.
• Task Tabs (Task 1, Task 2, etc.): Allows for cost breakdowns by individual tasks within the Statement of Work.
• Supporting Tabs: Includes sections for Subcontractor costs, Consultant costs, Materials/Supplies, Equipment, Travel, Other Direct Costs (ODCs), Animal-Related Costs, Human Subjects Research Costs, Expenditures by Month, and Milestones/Deliverables.

This spreadsheet is critical for any bidder needing to submit a cost proposal. It outlines the required format and detail for all cost elements, including labor, indirect costs, subcontracts, and other direct costs. Bidders must accurately complete all relevant sections, ensuring that all costs are supported and align with the technical proposal and any stated period of performance. Unpriced options will not be accepted.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Executive Summary Review form used by the Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory, to evaluate Executive Summaries submitted under the Tactical BAA Topic Area Groups (TAGs) for the FA9451-24-S-0001 TACTICAL BAA. It outlines the review process and criteria for determining if an offeror's Executive Summary is selected for inclusion in a TAG.

• Background Section: Collects information about the submitted Executive Summary, including Topic Area, Title, Offeror details, POCs, and dates.
• Review Section: Details the technical review process conducted by at least two technical personnel and approved by a Contracting Officer.
• Review Factors (8 Factors): Each factor is scored on a scale of "Well Qualified" (3 points), "Qualified" (2 points), "Minimally Qualified" (1 point), and "Not Qualified" (0 points). A minimum score of 18 out of 24 points is required for selection. A "Not Qualified" rating in any factor results in automatic disqualification.
• Specific Review Factors Include: Alignment with topic area, demonstration of experience, availability of technical personnel, availability of facilities, ability to innovate, ability to establish partnerships, quality of the Executive Summary itself, and commitment to an expedited proposal and award schedule.
• Assessment Section: Records the total points awarded and the final decision of whether the Executive Summary is selected or not selected for the Topic Area Group. It also includes signature lines for reviewers and the Contracting Officer.

This form details the specific criteria and scoring methodology used to evaluate the Executive Summary. Bidders should carefully review these factors and ensure their Executive Summary directly addresses each criterion to maximize their score and increase their chances of selection for the TAG. Understanding these requirements is crucial for preparing a compliant and competitive Executive Summary.